Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound

10/27/2026

🌊 BC HAS A NEW CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY — WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR SHIPBREAKING REGULATIONS AND OUR COASTLINE? 🌊

With a new Conservative majority government in British Columbia, important questions need to be asked about the future of shipbreaking and the protection of our marine environment.

🚢 British Columbia needs responsible ship recycling. But where are the safeguards to ensure this hazardous industry operates safely, with proper permits, meaningful regulatory oversight, and enforceable environmental standards?

❓ What is the new government's policy on shipbreaking?

🔹 🌿 Will it establish clear provincial requirements for ship recycling facilities, including proper permits and environmental safeguards?

🔹 🐟 Will it protect ecologically sensitive areas such as Baynes Sound — an important marine ecosystem supporting shellfish harvesting, herring spawning, wildlife and local livelihoods?

🔹 ⚓ Will it ensure ship recycling takes place at appropriately equipped, deep-water industrial ports, rather than on shallow tidal beaches and beside sensitive coastal habitats?

🔹 🤝 Will it work with the federal government, First Nations and local governments to close regulatory gaps and establish enforceable standards?

⚠️ Reducing red tape must never mean reducing environmental protection. Proper permitting and regulatory oversight are essential safeguards for our communities, our waters and our marine life.

🦪 Baynes Sound deserves clear answers. So do the residents, shellfish harvesters and communities whose livelihoods depend on a healthy marine environment.

📣 NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP!

✉️ Write to your elected provincial and federal representatives. Ask them directly what they will do to establish responsible shipbreaking regulations and protect ecologically sensitive coastal areas.

🌎 The environment cannot be sacrificed for industrial development. Economic opportunities and environmental protection must go hand in hand. Our coastlines, marine ecosystems and future generations depend on the decisions governments make today.

❓ We ask the new BC government: What is your policy on shipbreaking, and what concrete steps will you take to protect our coast?

🌊 Protect Baynes Sound. Protect our coast. Demand responsible ship recycling.



Josie OsborneRandene NeillTamara DavidsonConservative Party of BCGord Johns for Courtenay-AlberniDaniel Arbour, Director Comox Valley - Baynes Sound, Denman/HornbyTransport CanadaFisheries and Oceans CanadaWest Coast Environmental LawDavid Suzuki Foundation

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10/16/2026

10/01/2026

🌊 PROTECT BAYNES SOUND — FEDERAL OCEAN PROTECTION MUST INCLUDE SHIPBREAKING REGULATIONS!

On September 29, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a historic $1.2 billion investment to protect Canada’s oceans, strengthen environmental enforcement, and improve marine pollution prevention and response.

The Prime Minister stated:

“As we build our economy, we are conserving our environment through one integrated plan. We can and will do both.”

CCOBS agrees. But this commitment must extend to one of the marine industry’s most hazardous activities: shipbreaking.

At Union Bay, in the heart of sensitive Baynes Sound, concerns about shipbreaking-related contamination and gaps in regulatory oversight remain. Federal investments in monitoring, enforcement and pollution response are important, but we also need enforceable regulations that prevent pollution before it happens.

Canada must adopt international ship recycling standards, including the Hong Kong International Convention and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, to ensure end-of-life vessels are dismantled safely, with proper containment, hazardous-material controls and independent regulatory oversight.

The Prime Minister also committed to building infrastructure responsibly, “in ways that protect our oceans for generations to come.”

Those words must mean something here at home.

Baynes Sound supports shellfish harvesting, herring spawning, marine wildlife and coastal livelihoods. A sensitive, shallow tidal environment is not an appropriate place for inadequately regulated shipbreaking.

Canada needs ship recycling facilities — but they must be properly equipped, located in suitable industrial ports, and governed by enforceable environmental standards.

🌊 CCOBS calls on the federal government to turn its ocean protection commitments into action. Work with Provinces to create and implement enforcable regulations.

Protect Baynes Sound. Regulate shipbreaking. Prevent pollution at its source.



Liberal Party of Canada | Parti libéral du CanadaTamara DavidsonRandene NeillFisheries and Oceans CanadaTransport CanadaEnvironment and Climate ChangeBC NDPGord Johns for Courtenay-AlberniMark Carney

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09/29/2026

Congratulations to Port Alberni on this important milestone!

The Port Alberni Transshipment Hub (PATH) has been selected for inclusion in the 2026 Canada Investment Summit Dealbook, bringing this proposed deep-water port project to the attention of major Canadian and international investors.

This project offers the potential for much-needed investment, skilled jobs and long-term economic opportunities for Port Alberni and the Alberni Valley, while strengthening Vancouver Island’s connection to international trade.

For those of us concerned about the future of Baynes Sound, this announcement highlights an important distinction: location matters.

Port Alberni’s Alberni Inlet offers a sheltered, deep-water setting with access for ultra-large container vessels. Union Bay, by contrast, is a shallow, tidal coastal environment adjacent to sensitive marine ecosystems and productive shellfish grounds.

These are fundamentally different settings for major marine industrial development.

Ship recycling and other marine industrial activities must be located where the geography, water depth and infrastructure are appropriate for the work. In Union Bay, the shallow foreshore, sensitive habitat and proximity to homes and shellfish operations raise significant environmental and community concerns.

Port Alberni’s PATH project is still in its early planning stages and will require further environmental studies, meaningful First Nations engagement, regulatory approvals and careful assessment of its impacts. Its inclusion in the Dealbook is an opportunity to advance that work responsibly.

We congratulate the Port Alberni Port Authority and its partners on this milestone. Vancouver Island needs investment, good jobs and responsible marine infrastructure. Economic development and environmental protection must go hand in hand.

The lesson for Union Bay is clear: create economic opportunities in appropriate locations, with the deep-water access and infrastructure marine industry requires, while protecting sensitive shorelines, local communities and the shellfish resources that sustain our region.

CCOBS continues to advocate for Canada's adoption of international shipbreaking regulations!



Gord Johns for Courtenay-AlberniBC NDPJosie OsborneRandene NeillTamara DavidsonTransport CanadaFisheries and Oceans CanadaEnvironment and Climate ChangeAssociation of British Columbia Marine Industries - ABCMI

The Port Alberni Transshipment Hub (PATH) has been selected for inclusion in the 2026 Canada Investment Summit Dealbook.

This exciting milestone puts PATH in front of leading Canadian and global investors as we continue advancing this next-generation marine logistics corridor.

PATH is designed to help make Canada’s Pacific supply chain faster, more efficient and more resilient—adding trade capacity, reducing congestion and strengthening connections between global shipping routes and regional markets.

We’re proud to see this made-in-B.C. vision gaining national and international attention. Read the full news release:

https://papa-appa.ca/path-project-selected-for-2026-canada-investment-summit-dealbook/



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Le projet PATH (Port Alberni Transshipment Hub) a été sélectionné pour figurer dans le *Dealbook* du Sommet sur l’investissement au Canada de 2026.

Cette étape marquante place le projet PATH sous les projecteurs d’investisseurs canadiens et internationaux de premier plan, alors que nous poursuivons le développement de ce corridor logistique maritime de nouvelle génération.

Le projet PATH vise à rendre la chaîne d’approvisionnement canadienne du Pacifique plus rapide, plus efficace et plus résiliente, en augmentant la capacité commerciale, en réduisant la congestion et en renforçant les liens entre les routes maritimes mondiales et les marchés régionaux.

Nous sommes fiers de voir cette vision née en Colombie-Britannique susciter l’intérêt à l’échelle nationale et internationale.

Lire le communiqué de presse complet :
https://papa-appa.ca/path-project-selected-for-2026-canada-investment-summit-dealbook/

09/11/2026

🚨 NEW BC MINISTRY REPORT: DEEP WATER RECOVERY OUT OF COMPLIANCE Number 28!

A September 2, 2026 inspection report from BC’s Ministry of Environment and Parks found Deep Water Recovery Ltd. out of compliance with multiple requirements of its Pollution Abatement Order during the May–July 2026 inspection period.

https://nrced.gov.bc.ca/records;keywords=%22Deep%20Water%20Recovery%22;ms=562;currentPage=1;pageSize=25;sortBy=-dateIssued

The Ministry found that:

• The approved treatment plan had not been implemented.
• The required water treatment system had not been commissioned or operated as required.
• The required berm had not been raised.
• Sumps 2 and 3 had not been decommissioned as required. • The Ministry found that the water treatment system had been removed and was not operational after March 17, 2026.

The report states that DWR was out of compliance with these requirements from May 1 through July 31, 2026, and directs that the required actions be completed immediately.

The inspection was referred for investigation and classified by the Ministry as Level 2, Category D — Investigation.

These are the findings of the BC Ministry of Environment and Parks—not allegations made by CCOBS.

Baynes Sound is a provincially significant ecological area, and the Ministry notes that discharges from the facility flow into Baynes Sound. Previous sampling by DWR and the Ministry identified concentrations of concern including cadmium, copper, lead, zinc and PCBs.

CCOBS will continue to call for strong, enforceable regulations that protect Baynes Sound and ensure ship recycling is carried out safely and responsibly.

Tamara DavidsonRandene NeillGord Johns for Courtenay-AlberniJosie OsborneFisheries and Oceans CanadaTransport CanadaEnvironment and Climate ChangeEnvironment and Natural Resources in CanadaBC NDPAssociation of British Columbia Marine Industries - ABCMI

08/26/2026

CCOBS stands firmly with K’ómoks First Nation.

$95,000+ in fines over six years—and the contamination continues. That is not enforcement. That is a system that is failing.

Baynes Sound is too important to be treated as an industrial sacrifice zone. Heavy metals and toxic chemicals have no place entering a marine ecosystem that supports our shellfish industry, wildlife, food chains and communities.

CCOBS has been calling for coordinated action for years. Federal, provincial and municipal governments must close the regulatory gaps, stop passing responsibility, and put effective protections in place.

Fines that don’t stop the pollution are not deterrents. They are simply a cost of doing business.

Enough is enough. Protect Baynes Sound.

BC NDPTamara DavidsonRandene NeillJosie OsborneK'ómoks First NationEnvironment and Climate ChangeFisheries and Oceans CanadaTransport Canada

August 25, 2026 Comox Valley K’ómoks First Nation finds shipbreaking fines toothless when it comes to protecting Baynes Sound from contamination Over the last six years, the province has issued more than $95,000 in fines to Deep Water Recovery Ltd due to their unsafe shipbreaking activities in Un...

08/19/2026

🌊 B.C. cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this growing crisis any longer. 🚨

With nearly 900 retired vessels currently waiting to be recycled across the country, unregulated shipbreaking is rapidly becoming an environmental time bomb for our West Coast ecosystems.

🚢 toxic waste, asbestos, PCBs, and heavy metals threaten our shorelines when ships are broken down without proper oversight.

From the beaches of Howe Sound to ecologically sensitive areas like Union Bay—right next to critical shellfish grounds and vital bird habitats—our coastal communities and First Nations are being left to deal with the fallout of a massive regulatory gap.

Canada participated in developing the international Hong Kong Convention for safe ship recycling, yet we still haven't ratified it.

We need comprehensive, cross-governmental regulations now before more damage is done to our oceans and local economies.

📖 Please take five minutes to read this essential article from the David Suzuki Foundation by Fernanda Lima and Kilian Stehfest:👉

Read the full article on the David Suzuki Foundation Website
https://davidsuzuki.org/expert-article/canada-does-not-have-regulations-for-ship-recycling-and-thats-a-problem/

Tamara Davidson Randene Neill Gord Johns for Courtenay-Alberni Josie Osborne Fisheries and Oceans Canada Transport Canada Environment and Climate Change David Suzuki Foundation BC NDP

Which means that ships can be dismantled without addressing human safety concerns and environmental risks.

08/08/2026

Congratulations to Port Alberni & CME: Doing Marine Industry the Right Way

As Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound, we congratulate Canadian Maritime Engineering (CME) and Port Alberni on opening their new $5.5M+ Canal Beach shipyard expansion.

Their milestone shows exactly how industrial marine projects should be done—and highlights why Baynes Sound is entirely the wrong place for heavy marine industry, including recent proposals for large-scale ship maintenance, repair, and recycling operations at Union Bay.

Why Port Alberni Got It Right vs. Why Baynes Sound Is Unsuitable:

Deep-Water Port vs. Shallow 16-Foot Tides: CME’s 400-ton Travelift operates in a sheltered, deep-water port built for large vessels. Baynes Sound is a shallow, macrotidal beach with 16-foot tides—making heavy vessel repair or ship recycling ecologically dangerous and operationally ill-suited without massive, destructive dredging.

Zoned Heavy Industrial Uplands: Port Alberni offers dedicated heavy industrial land, engineered dry docks, and containment infrastructure. Union Bay’s foreshore lacks the heavy industrial zoning and fully contained facilities required to handle toxic contaminants, asbestos, or fuel runoff safely.

First Nations & Community Partnerships: CME involved the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations, the Port Authority, and the local community from day one. Unrealistic industrial proposals in Union Bay lack early transparency, legal water leases, and meaningful local endorsement.

Heavy marine industry—whether building, repairing, or recycling vessels—belongs in deep-water, purpose-built industrial hubs. It does not belong on a sensitive, shallow tidal beach that supports over half of B.C.’s shellfish industry.

Kudos to CME and Port Alberni for respecting geography, following proper process, and showing how marine industrial development should be done!



Gord Johns for Courtenay-AlberniRandene NeillTamara DavidsonBC NDPK'ómoks First NationDavid Suzuki FoundationTla'amin Nation

Canadian Maritime Engineering has unveiled its new 400 metric ton v...

07/28/2026

📢 OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Ensuring Responsible Marine Industrial Standards for Baynes Sound

The Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound (CCOBS) recognize the importance of British Columbia's maritime sector and support the responsible expansion of Canada's domestic marine infrastructure.

However, industrial growth must align with appropriate geography, strict environmental regulation, and community safety.

As modern shipbuilding and maritime defense initiatives advance across North America, the need for robust federal and provincial frameworks governing high-risk activities—specifically vessel dismantling, shipbreaking, and barge maintenance—has never been more urgent.

We emphasize that heavy marine industrial operations are entirely unsuited for shallow, ecologically sensitive coastal waters adjacent to residential neighborhoods.

⚓ The Ecological Significance of Baynes Sound
Baynes Sound is a designated Ecologically and Biologically Sensitive Area (EBSA) and a globally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA). It serves as British Columbia's largest shellfish aquaculture zone, responsible for roughly 60% of the province's multi-million dollar shellfish industry.

The introduction of uncontained heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and anti-fouling toxins directly threatens this vulnerable marine ecosystem, local food security, and regional economies.

⚓ Alignment with International Standards
Under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR), dragging or beaching vessels across the open foreshore is prohibited. This restriction exists precisely because scraping a ship's hull along the seabed strips off toxic anti-fouling paint, discharging heavy chemicals directly into the shallow marine ecosystem.

Canada must bridge this regulatory gap by formally adopting international conventions that govern end-of-life vessel recycling. High-risk industrial operations require specialized, deep-water heavy industrial ports equipped with proper dry docks, full-containment facilities, comprehensive environmental permits, and strict regulatory oversight.

CCOBS continues to advocate for a balanced approach: protecting Canada's most critical coastal ecosystems while ensuring heavy marine industry takes place only in the appropriate, designated zones.



Fisheries and Oceans CanadaTransport CanadaEnvironment and Climate ChangeBC NDPGord Johns for Courtenay-AlberniJosie OsborneTamara DavidsonRandene Neill

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07/16/2026

Thank you Gord Johns for Courtenay-Alberni This is long overdue and an important step in the right direction.

Canada needs a comprehensive national ship recycling strategy that protects both our coastal communities and our marine ecosystems. That means federal, provincial and municipal governments must work together to establish clear regulations, strong oversight and consistent enforcement.

Responsible ship recycling can create good, long-term jobs, but it must be done at facilities specifically designed and regulated for that purpose. Communities should never have to choose between economic opportunity and environmental protection.

Our coastlines and waters deserve the highest international environmental, labour and safety standards. It's time for Canada to implement modern ship recycling regulations that protect people, protect the environment, and provide certainty for industry.

Let's make sure Shipbuilding Strategy 2.0 includes not only investment in ship recycling infrastructure, but the regulatory framework needed to ensure it is done safely and responsibly.

Now, it is time for the BC NDP and Union of BC Municipalities to start on their own strategies. Do not allow what happened in Union Bay to happen anywhere else. Be proactive! Tighten your bylaws! Create provincial shipbreaking regulations! Protect the residential communities ! Protect our coastline! Protect our oceans! Learn from the mistakes.

Comox Valley Regional District - Local Government BC NDP Randene Neill Tamara Davidson Josie Osborne Gord Johns for Courtenay-Alberni

The Liberal government has confirmed that vessel disposal and recycling are being considered as part of the review of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. It also recognizes the environmental importance of responsible ship recycling and the economic opportunities that developing domestic capacity could create for coastal communities like ours.

A renewed National Shipbuilding Strategy 2.0 should include dedicated funding for ship-recycling infrastructure and a firm commitment to responsibly recycle all federal vessels at specialized Canadian facilities that meet the highest international environmental, labour and safety standards.

For communities like Port Alberni, this could mean good, long-term jobs in ship recycling, repair and marine services, built in partnership with First Nations, workers, local governments and the community, and supported by strong environmental standards and social licence.

Canada has hundreds of aging and end-of-life vessels that need to be responsibly dismantled. Instead of exporting the work, the waste and the economic opportunity, we should build the capacity to do it safely here at home.

Let’s get this done.